If you found out that the Pet you fell in love with at the shelter was UNHEALTHY, would you still adopt it?

Question

I was just curious how many people would take in or adopt a puppy/dog/pet from a shelter that was sick- whether it be worms, kennel cough, or some other more serious illness. When i went to adopt my pup they had told me she had her shots and was in good health. When i went back two days later after she was suppose to get spayed they informed me they didn't do the operation cause she had worms and kennel cough. Well although it turned out to be A LOT more serious than that they basically said take the dog and get her medical attention or pick out another dog. Of course i wanted her- i bonded with her and still adopted her. Well three weeks later she was still sick and had cost me about $3000.00. So my question is would you still adopt/buy a dog if it is unhealthy- although you fell in love with it right away?

I mean if you don't get it help who will?

Just to let you all know this shelter was one of the worst ones i have been to. I could have gone to one with a more 'healthy' environment but there were sooo many dogs at this one and they needed help and out of there fastttt!

Just to let you know my girl is healthy now and happy! Doctors can do wonders :)

BY the way we never really new what was wrong with my pup- she had to have x-rays, bloodwork, enimaas (sp), meds, fluids, and etc.

Her trip to the emergency clinic twice and boarding for a couple of days was what really cost a lot of $$$...but what can you do at midnight!?

The vets thought she had some type of upper respitory infection or maybe a case of distemper-thank goodness she never got the neurological signs so we could rule that out. She was pretty much a puppy again about after a month after i got her thanks to meds., shots, fluids and etc. :)

Answer 1

Probably
yes

that's why I can't work at a shelter or go to a shelter because I would want to rescue each and every dog.

You have a good heart and soul!

Answer 2

I think that it depends on the situation. There are some animals in the shelters that have ALOT of serious issues and will require medical treatment forever - if they have cancer or artritus or a number of long-term illnesses. Worms and cough are quite typical in a shelter and it's almost unavoidable that animals will get this. Some shelters do provide services to help you with these types of issues. I adopted both of my cats from the San Francisco SPCA and they have a 30 day free medical program...so if your adopted pet has any illnesses related to the shelter (such as worms, cough, etc) they will take care of it for free for the first 30 days you have your pet. I think that it's quite reasonable to suggest that many shelters do not have such a program in place because they do not have the resources or the money to provided it. The shelter in SF receives alot of donations so they are able to help people who adopt - whereas many, many other shelters get little if any support for their efforts. I think that you have to take this into consideration when you adopt. But it is better to adopt from a shelter always - you are saving an animal and supporting an organization that wants to help animals. It's just that these shelters need more money to do more. But I think the fact that you still adopted your dog is admirable and I wish more people would care as much.

Answer 3

That's hard, I don't have endless amounts of money (as I'm sure you probably don't either) and most of my vet bills are related to preventative care because it can be so expensive. If it was something I knew could be fixed, then yes I would probably still adopt the dog. If it couldn't be or wasn't likely, I don't know. If I didn't adopt the dog, I would probably at least sponser it for as much as I could afford and still visit the dog (This isn't always allowed though) I hope you dog gets better and has a nice long life with you, even though it is expensive, you've done a very good thing and there should be more people out there like you (I hate seeing people who can afford to do it, but don't take care of their dogs when they are sick)

Answer 4

Yes, and I have adopted sick ones.

I adopted a cat a few years ago was seriously ill when I adopted him. That didn't matter to me. The first night I had him, we ended up at the ER vet. Then we went on to get a series of treatments for a respiratory infection. And I had him fixed.

One of the dogs I adopted from the shelter became very ill after I adopted him. It was still in the 7 day grace period, so I could have returned him to the pound, no questions asked...but that is not even an option in my book. I racked up over $500 in vet bills to get him healthy again (plus all the vaccines, neutering, etc.) But it was worth every penny.

I figure it's just like taking care of yourself or your child. If a person becomes ill, we do everything in our power to help....why would we treat another species any differently?

Answer 5

This unfortunately is a common tale. I would not get a pet that was ill neither would most people. My consider ration is a monetary one, I know that I wouldnt have the money to treat it.
But then on the other hand if I loved it I would spend the few precious days with it that I could. And by the way one never really knows what one is getting from those places. They say one thing but many people ultimately wind up with a sick animals. Sometimes I feel like these are test animals and they know it and just are'nt telling . Also I feel like they know that making the "toy" size (you know mixing whatever breed with the chihuhua breeds an unhealthy dog and they just are'nt telling us.

Answer 6

kennel cough is VERY contagious, and almost all puppies get worms, what I would be concerned about is the place you get the puppy from...kennel cough is something they should be aware of because the dogs have a very persistent cough, and they should have known it.one of the dogs in the kennel is spreading it around and in order to get rid of it the whole kennel needs to be shut down and bleached...that is a very expensive process for a kennel...they are irresponsible, your puppy got kennel cough from another dog that did not have its shots and the kennel should have reimbursed you for your costs. there is a "puppy lemon law" !! I would go back to the kennel or make a phone call to someone and alert them to the unsanitary kennel in which you purchased you puppy from. but yes if I fell in love with a puppy I would adopt it. I have 2 dogs a rescued from a shelter. and I am extremely grateful that I did. Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

they'll in all probability ask you for a replica of your hire beforehand of adoption. Shelters won't undertake to residences that don't enable pets. there is too lots threat of the animal being deserted or decrease back (while the owner unearths out) for them to take the possibility, besides as liabilities in contact with purposely ignoring the words of a hire. ETA: mendacity to the look after is a unfavourable theory, and a stable thank you to get your self blacklisted from ever adopting (maximum shelters are in touch with one yet another besides, and warn approximately such adopters). maximum places have an application, upon which you're signing that each physique advice is precise and truthful. they'll easily deny everybody caught mendacity.

Answer 8

I am a foster at for a local stray rescue group and we get dogs all the time who are sick and i feel so bad for them. I want to say the fact that you took her was a wonderful thing to do because i see alot of the sick or old dogs come in and they never get a home. It is really sad. That said if you cannot afford it i do not suggest you take the dog because if you cannot provide it with the care it needs you are not really helping the dog even if you do really love it.

Answer 9

Of course. The pup I adopted from a shelter has since been diagnosed with luxating patellas. Granted I didnt find out until 5 months after I adopted her, but I would have had I known. It is going to cost me a whole lot throughout her lifetime between meds and surgery.

Answer 10

You have to think about this in terms of your other pets too. If there were a dog with parvo or distemper would I bring it home? Never. If it were worms? sure, easy fix that is not a big risk to my other dogs. Some things like coccidia, Guardia and other contagious diseases, I would avoid because of my other dogs. You have to think of the animals you are responsible for before you add more. If it were an only dog in the home situation, then you could be more open to letting him into your home. But if you have other animals, you need to think about them.

Answer 11

Yikes! That was an expensive adoption! She was lucky to get such a decent person. Thanks for taking care of her in a good way; I hope she gets well soon, and you get to enjoy many happy healthy years with her. I am of the mind that people and animals aren't so very different, and that money is simply a tool for accomplishing tasks, but not of much value just sitting there - so spending your money getting health care for someone who's sick is a good thing to do. Happy holidays to you and the pup.